Shed the weight by replacing meat with legumes

If you want to shed extra calories by cutting out - or cutting down on - meat, but you don’t want to lose out on important nutrients, legumes might be just what you need!

You might be a little more concerned about what goes into your meat, after all the controversy earlier this year concerning processed meat products. Or maybe you’ve wanted to give it up (or simply cut down on it) for some time, to save a bit of extra money (who can afford to freeze a whole lamb anymore these days?), but you weren’t sure if it was a good idea or not.

Whatever your reasons for thinking about it, you can rest assured that there is, in fact, a healthy alternative to meat out there!

It’s true, meat is an important nutrient that our body needs. But did you know that you can get the proteins your body needs from other sources besides meat?

Legumes are jam-packed full of vitamins, nutrients, proteins and fibre.

They also contain fewer calories, less cholesterol and less fat, compared to meat.

If you really can’t bear the thought of giving up meat, why not try replacing meat with some legumes on one night a week?

It might not sound as appetising as meat, but if cooked the right way, these pulses can taste absolutely delicious! Forget about bland beans and tasteless lentil dishes. You might be surprised by just how much a dish can change, based on adding spices and seasonings.

You have quite a big choice when it comes to legumes, including:

• Black beans, red kidney beans, and lima beans

• Chickpeas

• Lentils

• Edamame

• Soy nuts

You could make a spicy lentil soup for example, or a comforting black bean curry, or even a fresh chickpea and veggie salad. Replace mince in spaghetti bolognese with lentils, or enjoy a plate of homemade nachos with kidney beans, guacamole and mozzarella cheese.

The options are endless!

If you’re set on losing some extra weight before summer, why not try a few legume dishes for you and your family once or twice a week?

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to read 7 Effortless ways to cut daily calories

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